Ghrelin restores memory impairment following olfactory bulbectomy in mice by activating hippocampal NMDA1 and MAPK1 gene expression.

Ghrelin (Ghrl) is an orexigenic peptide with potential roles in the modulation of anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms induced by bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (OB) in rodents. In the present work, we assessed whether intrahippocampal Ghrl could reverse OB-induced depressive-like and amnesic effects by regulating molecular mechanisms related to neuroplasticity. Adult female albino Swiss mice were divided into sham and OB groups, and infused with saline (S) or Ghrl 0.03 nmol/µl, 0.3 nmol/µl, or 3 nmol/µl into the hippocampus before exposition to open-field test (OFT) and tail suspension test (TST) or immediately after training in the object recognition test (ORT). After test phase in ORT, animals were euthanized and their hippocampi were dissected to study the expression of genes related to memory. The OB-S animals presented hyperlocomotion in OFT, increased immobility in TST and memory impairment compared to sham-S (p < 0.05), but acute intrahippocampal infusion of Ghrl 0.3 nmol/µl produced an improvement on these parameters in OB animals (p < 0.05). In addition, this dose of Ghrl reversed OB-induced low expression of NMDA1 and MAPK1 iso1 and up-regulated the expression of CaMKIIa iso1 and iso2, and MAPK1 iso2 (p < 0.05). These results extend the existing literature regarding OB-induced behavioral and neurochemical changes, and provide mechanisms that could underlie the antidepressant effect of Ghrl in this model.

Circulation of human coronaviruses OC43 and 229E in Córdoba, Argentina.

This is the first study of respiratory infections in Córdoba, Argentina, caused by endemic human coronavirus (HCoV)-OC43 and HCOV-229E, which circulated during 2011-2012 at a 3% rate, either as single or multiple infections. They were detected mainly in children, but HCoV-229E was also found in adults. HCoV-229E was detected in five out of 631 samples (0.8%), and HCoV-OC43 was found in 14 out of 631 (2.2%) samples. Clinical manifestations ranged from fever to respiratory distress, and a significant association of HCoV-229E with asthma was observed. Further studies and surveillance are needed to provide better clinical insights, early diagnosis, and medical care of patients, as well as to contribute to epidemiology modeling and prevention.

Direct costs and clinical impact of adenovirus genotype 8 conjunctivitis outbreak in a neonatology unit.

OBJECTIVE: To report a conjunctivitis outbreak in a neonatology intensive care unit (NICU) and determine the associated economic impact. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC) University Hospital, a private, tertiary-care healthcare institution in Buenos Aires, Argentina. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 52 NICU neonates and 59 NICU-related healthcare workers (HCWs) from CEMIC hospital. METHODS: Neonates and HCWs were swabbed for real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, viral culture, and typing by sequencing. Infection control measures, structural and logistic changes were implemented. Billing records were analyzed to determine costs. RESULTS: From January 30 to April 28, 2018, 52 neonates were hospitalized in the NICU. Among them, 14 of 52 (21%) had bilateral conjunctivitis with pseudomembranes. Symptomatic neonates and HCWs were HAdV-D8 positive. Ophthalmological symptoms had a median duration of 18 days (IQR, 13-24.5). PCR positivity and infectious range had a median duration of 18.5 days. As part of containment measures, the NICU and the high-risk pregnancy unit were closed to new patients. The NICU was divided into 2 areas for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients; a new room was assigned for the general nursery, and all deliveries from the high-risk pregnancy unit were redirected to other hospitals. The outbreak cost the hospital US$205,000: implementation of a new nursery room and extra salaries cost US$30,350 and estimated productivity loss during 1 month cost US$175,000. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory diagnosis confirmed the cause of this outbreak as HAdV-D8. The immediate adoption and reinforcement of rigorous infection control measures limited the nosocomial viral spread. This outbreak represented a serious institutional problem, causing morbidity, significant economic loss, and absenteeism.

Human Metapneumovirus: Epidemiology and genotype diversity in children and adult patients with respiratory infection in Córdoba, Argentina.

Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is responsible for acute respiratory infections in humans, with clinical and epidemiological relevance in pediatric, elderly, and immunocompromised populations. These features are largely unknown in Córdoba, Argentina and in adults in general. Hence, our goal was to broadly characterize hMPV infection in patients of all ages hospitalized with acute respiratory infections in Córdoba, Argentina, including epidemiology, clinical features and genetic diversity. Nasopharyngeal secretions were obtained from 795 patients during 2011-2013, 621 patients were 0-25 years old and 174 were 26-85 years old. HMPV was assayed by RT-PCR and other respiratory viruses by indirect immunofluorescence. Local strains were identified by sequence analysis. Human Metapneumovirus was detected in 20.3% (161/795) patients, 13.1% as single infections and 7.2% in co-infections, more frequently with Respiratory Syncytial Virus. HMPV circulated during late winter and spring in all age patients, but mainly in children under 4 years old in 71.4% (115/161) and adults between 26 and 59 years old in 12.4% (20/161). The most prevalent diagnosis was mild acute respiratory infection in 59.6% (96/161) and bronchiolitis in 9.3% (15/161). Local strains were clustered within A2 subtype; they presented 73-100% identities among them, showing a high degree of homology compared to isolations from neighboring countries. We demonstrate that hMPV circulated among all age patients with respiratory infection during 2011-2013 in Córdoba, contributing to the understanding of this virus, its diagnosis and patient handling in local health-care centers.

[Monoinfection of human Metapneumovirus in Cordoba: first clinical and epidemiological research in children with respiratory infection in 2011]. / Monoinfección de Metapneumovirus humano en Córdoba: primeras investigaciones clínico-epidemiológicas en niños con infección respiratoria en 2011.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) RNA virus discovered in 2001, is a pathogen associated with acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children under 5 years; its prevalence ranges from 5-15%. In Córdoba, it is not integrated into the viral research in patients with low IRA (LARI). OBJECTIVE: Detect hMPV in children under 5 years hospitalized for LARI in the Children's Hospital "Santísima Trinidad" of Cordoba (HNC) in 2011 and describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of monoinfecciones without comorbidity. POPULATION AND METHOD: Prospective, observational study. It includes (informed consent) children under 5 years with LARI of HNC from January to December 2011. The viral detection was performed using immunofluorescence of nasopharyngeal aspirate secretions. Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data of positive cases were recorded. RESULTS: Of 223 patients enrolled, respiratory viruses were detected in 74 (33.2%). HMPV prevalence was 4.04% (9/223), representing the 2nd place with Parainfluenza 3 (4.04%) after RSV (19.73%). Season from July to December. The average age for hMPV was 7.4 ± 6.8 months (0-60 months), 4/9 males. The average hospital stay in days was 5.6 ± 0.5 and prodrome days: 1.9 days ± 0.6. All patients require oxygen therapy (3.9 ± 1.3 days) without mechanical ventilation. Diagnosis of bronchiolitis cases occurred in 5/9 and 4/9 pneumonia. No complications at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: First report to document the presence of hMPV in child population of Cordoba. Its prevalence in 2011 was 4, 04%. Among monoinfecciones no fatalities or complications at discharge were recorded.

Metapneumovirus humano (MPVh), virus ARN descubierto en 2001, es un patógeno relacionado con infección respiratoria aguda (IRA) en menores de 5 años; su prevalencia oscila entre el 5-15%. En Córdoba no está integrado a la pesquisa viral en pacientes con IRA baja (IRAB). Objetivo. Detectar MPVh en menores de 5 años hospitalizados por IRAB en el Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad de Córdoba (HNC) durante el 2011 y describir características clínico-epidemiológicas de las monoinfecciones sin comorbilidad previa. Población y método. Estudio prospectivo, observacional. Participaron (consentimiento informado) menores de 5 años con IRAB del HNC desde enero a diciembre de 2011. La detección viral se realizó con Inmunofluorescencia de aspirado de secreciones nasofaríngeas. Se registraron datos demográficos, epidemiológicos y clínicos de los casos positivos. Resultados. De 223 pacientes incluidos, se detectó algún virus respiratorio en 74 (33,2%). La prevalencia de MPVh fue de 4,04% (9/223), representando el 2° lugar con Parainfluenza 3 (4,04 %), luego de VRS (19,73%). Estacionalidad julio-diciembre. La edad media para MPVh fue de 7,4±6,8 meses (0 a 60 meses), 4/9 varones. La media de hospitalización fue de 5,6±0,5 días, y de pródromo 1,9±0,6 días. Todos requirieron oxigenoterapia (3,9±1,3 días) sin asistencia respiratoria mecánica. Diagnóstico de bronquiolitis en 5/9 casos y neumonía en 4/9. Sin complicaciones al alta. Conclusiones. Primer trabajo en documentar la presencia de MPVh en población infantil de Córdoba. Su prevalencia durante el 2011 fue del 4, 04 %. Entre las monoinfecciones no se registraron casos fatales ni complicaciones al momento del alta.